Drew Field

Tampa International Airport is one of the finest airports in the world. In 2008 TIA was recognized as the second best airport in the world. In 2011 TIA was on the list of the world's top ten airports...the only airport from the USA on the list.

But Tampa's airport history goes back to a time before this modern facility...back to the days of Drew Field

This is the origin of Tampa's airport history. In the late 1920's there was a land boom in Florida and city officials decided the city needed an airfield to keep up with the fast moving times. The land was acquired from a man named John H. Drew. 

In the early days the field was little more than some hangars and dirt runways used mostly for mail delivery. Work on improving the field began in 1933 when three 7000 foot asphalt runways with lights were built. 

Drew Field had a much bigger responsibility in 1939 as the buildup to World War II began. In 1940 the Army leased Drew Field from the city and soon the United States Army Air Force would take over Drew Field for the duration of the war. The Third Air Force used the field as a training center for combat air crews.

A B-17 crew at Drew Field

My father used to tell me about seeing the B-17's fly over when he was young

After the war Drew Field was given back to the city. The field had been greatly expanded and improved. 

In 1950 Drew Field was renamed Tampa International Airport and in 1952 a beautiful new terminal was built

That is the history of Tampa International Airport and Drew Field

The beautiful Tampa International Airport of today sits where a piece of Tampa's past once stood...Drew Field